Labor Law and Work Permits for California.
Do you know the child actor labor laws for your state? If you’re looking to pursue a career in entertainment for your child or if you are an entertainment industry professional looking to employ a child in your production, it is important that you know the child actor labor laws in both your home state and any state in which you intend to work.
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California has extensive rules for the employment of minors in the entertainment industry. The law requires both producers and child talent to hold permits to work and requires the presence of a California Certified Studio Teacher/Welfare Worker AT ALL TIMES for minors age 15 days to 15 years. The teacher, in addition to teaching, has the responsibility to look after the health, safety and welfare of the working minor. 16-17-year-old minors require a teacher for education only.
Emancipated minors are not exempt from California Child Labor Law unless the emancipation document specifically exempts the minor from Title 8 of the California Code of regulations. Graduated minors, however, may work any hours as an adult CA LC 1391.2.
Click here to view the full text of California Law
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Minors employed in entertainment are required to have a current/valid Entertainment Work Permit before work may be granted. School-age minors must demonstrate that they have “satisfactory” grade and attendance records before a permit will be issued.
Effective as of 1/1/2021: All submissions for minors aged 14-17 years old made online, by main, or in person must include Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) Certificate of Completion in Sexual Harassment Prevention Training (SHPT), and Certification of Compliance from the minor’s parent or legal guardian which is provided free of charge via the DFEH website. The training must be conducted in the language understood by the minor and their parent or legal guardian “whenever reasonably possible.” The parent or legal guardian must then certify to the Labor Commissioner that the training have been completed in order to be in compliance with the law.
Entertainment Industry Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Requirements (.pdf)
Click here to take the DFEH course
All minors working in the entertainment industry in California must register to obtain permits online.
10-Day Temporary Online Permit
*temporary permits are available to children under 16 years of age, on a one time only basis for a $50.00 fee through the DLSE.
Effective September 23, 2019, a new online system was implemented. You must create a new online account. Any existing username and password will not work.
Use the following forms ONLY IF WALKING or MAILING into DLSE – these forms cannot be used in conjunction with CA’s online system.
Additional documentation for Home Schooled Minors
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A Permit to Employ Minors in the entertainment industry is required in California. In order to obtain a permit the California Division of Labor Standards requires a completed application form and a copy of your workers compensation insurance policy. There is no fee. Permits must be obtained prior to employing children in your production.
Application for Permission to Employ Minors
Blanket Permits are available to employers who require large groups of minors such as a baseball team or a marching band. The Department of Labor requires additional processing time for blanket permits and all signatures must be original. No emails, copies or faxes allowed.
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Parents are required to open a “Coogan Trust Account” a.k.a. blocked trust account within 7 business days of the start of employment and provide employers with a trustee’s statement evidencing proof of the account within 10 business days after the start of employment.
Producers (employers) are required to deposit 15% of gross earnings directly into the minor’s “Coogan trust account” within 15 days of receiving a copy of the Coogan trust document.
To learn more about California Coogan Accounts, click here.
To read the code of the CA Coogan Law, click here.
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Employers must provide a California Certified Studio Teacher/Welfare Worker for the education of all minors up to 18 years. When employing any child under 16, studio teachers are required on all work days including weekends and holidays. Minors age 16 and 17 only require a studio teacher during school days. Studio teachers shall care and attend to the welfare of all minors 16 years of age and under.
The ratio of minors per studio teacher: 10:1 on school days; 20:1 on non-school days.
How can I tell if a teacher holds a current California Studio Teaching Certificate?
Ask the teacher to provide a copy of their “Studio Teaching Certificate” (small green card) or click on the following link to search the database of licensed California Studio Teachers.
To find out if a teacher holds a license for Studio Teaching in the State of California, click here.
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The state of California requires that all Talent Agencies be licensed and bonded.
Click here to search the California Talent Agent License Database
All talent agencies operating in California must provide their artists with education on sexual harassment prevention, retaliation, reporting resources, nutrition and eating disorder information. The law went into effect January 2019 however, due to the unavailability of third-party vendors and applicable materials, the Labor Commissioner will not be enforcing these new provisions until June 30, 2019.
Applicants for entertainment work permits for minors between the ages of 14 and 17 (parents/legal guardians as well as the age-eligible minor) will be required to provide satisfactory proof of sexual harassment prevention training before obtaining a minor’s entertainment work permit.
Applicants for 10-day temporary entertainment work permits are exempt from the training requirement.
Click here or a copy of the new law and minimum required training materials.
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In 2015, California enacted the Child Performer Services Permit Law requiring anyone (talent managers included) who provides services to an artist under the age of 18 in California to undergo a criminal background check.
The application fee is $198 and the permit must be renewed every two years. If you are an industry pro interested in obtaining this permit, click here to apply.
If you are a parent/guardian trying to ascertain if an industry pro holds this permit, click here to search for a Child Performer Services Permit holder.
In order to get accurate results, you must have the exact name of the permit holder.
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In California, CA Graduated Minors are exempt from child labor law, but must still adhere to Coogan Laws.
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Los Angeles Office:
California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement
Los Angeles
320 W. Fourth Street, Suite 450
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Phone (213) 620-6330
Fax (213) 576-6227